Internal combustion engine



June 3, 1941.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 6. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2'5 ExPA/vsm/v VALVE N. M. JONE$ 2,244,623

June 3, 1941. N. M. JONES INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 1940 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL COIMBUSTION ENGINE Nelson M. Jones, Hatchville, Mass. Application June 6, 1940, Serial N0. 339,188

ll Claim.

This invention relates to an internal combustion engine and aims to provide a method and means whereby a medium is employed which has a definite refrigerating action or effect on the cooling system by changing from a liquid to a gaseous state and is thereafter used in the gaseous state as the power medium or fuel.

More specifically, it is aimed to employ a liquid hydrocarbon like butane or propane and supply it through an expansion valve into a coil in cooling relation to the liquid water cooling medium of the engine, from which coil, the gas is supplied to a mixing valve for admixture with air and subsequent ignition as the power medium.

The more specific objects and advantages will inpart be pointed out and otherwise become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

view through the mixing valve structure;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section through a modified form.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, an internal combustion engine is shown at it which for the most part is conventional. Such engine has a cylinder ii in which a piston i2 is reciprocable and has a connecting rod 03 operatively connected to a crank M of the main shaft 11-5, suitably Journaled within the crank case at it. The cylinder l'i has a water jacket ll, an inlet duct Hi from which the fuel mixture is supplied to the cylinder in proper timed relation under control of a valve iii, the exhaust from the cylinder being under control of a properly timed valve it to escape through a pipe or duct 2| to the atmosphere or otherwise.

The space within the water jacket ii is filled with water or other liquid cooling medium as at 22, which preferably contains an agent to prevent freezing thereof below any desired temperature, and such agent may be Prestone, alcohol, glycerin or the like. Located within the cooling agent 22 is a coil 23 in communication with a fuel supply tank it by means of a pipe 25 including an expansion valve at 26.

Inaccordance with the invention, the fuel or liquid supplied to the tank 24 is a liquid hydrocarbon which through passage through the expansion valve 26 becomes a vapor or gas and thus produces a distinct cooling or refrigerating effect on the liquid 2-2, as such gas passes through the coil 23.

The gas leaves coil 23 through a pipe 27 which conveys it to a mixing chamber 28 under control of a valve 29 and into which mixing chamber 28, air is admitted through a branch or port it, under control of a throttle valve 3i. Hence the gas and air will admix in the mixing chamber 28 and from the latter pass through the duct It into the cylinder ill for firing or explosion by any suitable means, the engine preferably oper-- ating on the four cycle principle.

Liquids which will act for refrigerating purposes and then as fuel as described and which are supplied to the tank 2i, may be butane or propane.

It may be pointed out that the butane, propane or other liquid in the tank it produces its own pressure, the same varying up to one hundred and seventy pounds per square inch, the tank 2t being closed air tight, and no pumps being needed to place the butane or propane under pressure.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit andseope of the invention. For example, I may use the modified form of Figure 4. In this form, in lieu of employing a coil in the water jacket of the cylinder, I employ a coil at 23' which is located within a reservoir 3?;whieh is in communication with the water jacket ll of the engine by upper and lower pipes 33 and 3 1 The cooling liquid 22, similar to that used at 22 is in a quantity to fill the water jacket Ill and the tank 32 and pipes 33 and it. In this form, the same fuel is used as in the preceding form which is contained as a liquid in an air tight tank 2% and flows therefrom through a pipe 25 including an expansion valve 26' delivering into the coil 23 and from the latter, the gas following its cooling or refrigerating function. passes through a pipe 21', to a mixing valve device 28' similar to that shown in Figure 2 and employed in the first form, admixing with air therein and then passing through a pipe or duct t8 into the cylinder of the engine, all remaining parts conforming in structure and operation to the first form.

Various other changes are permissible within the scope of the claim.

I claim as my invention:

In an internal combustion engine having a expand it under its own pressure directly into the coil as a gas for its refrigerating effect on the cooling medium, and means outside of the jacket to convey the gas from the coil and utilize 5 it to drive the engine.

- NELSON M. J ONES. T 

